Have you ever thought, wow, there is a lot of trash on this beach, in this river, or in this park? Most of us don’t ever have the time to do much more than pick up a little thing here and there along the way, but Sungai Watch went all in. They saw the issue of the garbage in the Indonesian rivers and literally jumped into action, by jumping into the rivers! This is not a job for the faint of heart; so, I really tip my hat off to the amazing Sungai Watch team. After collecting the trash they realized that they were stuck with a lot of garbage. So, naturally they turned it into high end luxury chairs to help fund their efforts! Ergo, Sungai Design was born! Read on to learn more about these amazing people and their beautiful chairs.

Climb New Heights Barefoot

Shoes are an integral part of our daily outfits. They bring us to new heights and help us to explore the beauty that nature brings. One type of shoe that is making waves around the world at the moment is Barefoot shoes. Besides the countless health benefit from improving posture to naturally strengthening muscles, Barefoot shoes offer maximum sensory with their thin soles as if you are walking barefoot. It has been said that producing a pair of shoes can emit as much as 30 pounds of carbon dioxide and damage the environment from the use of eco-unfriendly materials. Perhaps, it is not too late to make a positive impact on the environment from our end by supporting shoes good for your feet and the future. Check out Jejune’s approved guide to stylish and eco-friendly barefoot shoes to explore new heights in your next adventure.

Smash Your Fitness Goals With Earth-Friendly Activewear

It seems like only recently that the fitness movement has become popular. In fact, it actually hit its full “craze” status in the 1980s. Compare to back then, there are now more options to keep good physical and mental health such as mountain climbing, SoulCycle, and dance workouts. To keep up with the ever changing world of fitness, a good athletic outfit is a must! So much so, that athletic wear is also becoming more of a staple for daily wear. As everyone is starting to incorporate athletic wear into their daily wear, there are a ton of options and possibilities to shop for, but only a handful of them is creating stylish and high-performance athletic wear whilst protecting people and the planet. Below, find Jejune’s guide to stylish and Earth-friendly athleisure to sport for your next workout.

COVER - The Wellness Of Sustainability

In just a month it already feels like a new world. We have a president who wears a mask, recognizes science, and very importantly is making steps in the right direction for our environment. In a lot of ways, I feel that the pandemic has awaken us to what is truly important to us — our loved ones, our health, and our future. While we are navigating this current situation, it is very important to not forget about the other issues on hand. Climate change is hot on our heels! I mean, Texas is frozen over, while ice caps are melting.

We talk about sustainable improvements to our lives, but one of my favorite is fashion. Fashion is notorious for being very wasteful, but it doesn’t have to be! There is an ever increasing array of designers who are eco-friendly and amazing! But while I feel people are starting to notice this, we are not talking as much about one part of fashion that can also be sustainable and vegan, shoes! So, I thought, what would be a better way to show off some amazing sustainable shoe brands than on a contortionist! Side note: Victoria Gibbs doesn’t think she is a contortionist, but if she isn’t she is certainly up there for me. If you can put your feet over your head and put them on the ground, then I’m convinced you are a contortionist!

On addition to showing off amazing shoes in a cool way, Victoria talks with us about health, wellness, being very bendy, and her work with Lupus. To learn more about Victoria, please read our exclusive interview below.

INKAMODA Invites Us To Reconnect With The Nature

Imagine a fashion brand that produces soft, comfortable, and elegant pieces while producing responsibly. As consumers, we want to imagine this but we also must consider how our purchases will affect the environment and workers and this question: "Who makes the clothing we wear every day and in what conditions?”

INKAMODA answers this question with transparency and an empowering vision. The Peruvian brand offers ethical and sustainable pieces that are designed with ancient techniques, reflecting the soul of Inca culture. They use unique Alpaca fiber (which promotes sustainable agriculture in the Andes) for their soft, warm, and breathable pieces. In our interview with Vari Garcia, the brand’s founder and designer, we talk about INKAMODA’s current campaign for empowering Andean communities and women creators, as well as the challenges of sustainability in business. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about INKAMODA.

Save The Duck Is Raising The Bar For Sustainable Fashion

Save the Duck has a direct mission that you can probably guess from their company name. That’s right: save the duck. Their products are 100% animal free and cruelty free. Turning away from the typical down coat for winter wear, the Italian company provides sustainable and cozy alternatives to help you survive the winter. Their platform is devoted to not only keeping their customers safe from the cold, but to maintaining a respect for the environment and animals throughout every level of garment production. In 2019 Save The Duck was PETA’S ‘Company of the Year’ and were the first Italian fashion brand to obtain B Corp Certification, a certification reserved for the best performers in social and sustainability issues. From its origins until today, Save The Duck has always built bonds and collaborations with successful companies committed to making our planet a better place. In partnership with ACBC, Save The Duck just developed a new eco-friendly sneaker for everyday wear. Like their clothing, the sneakers encourage respect for the space around us and are a reminder of the intentional steps (both figurative and literal) that fashion brands and consumers can take to preserve our environment. We asked Save The Duck to give us an in-depth explanation of their unique approach to sustainable fashion and the technology they are using to create a more sustainable world. Please dive into our full exclusive interview here.

Lesa Wilson Has Gone Green!

Lesa Wilson is the definition of a triple threat. A trained pageant queen, literally, American Idol contestant, and a now reoccurring face on the new CW show Starrgirl, Wilson can be defined as more than accomplished. Having spent decades of her life focused on her work, she decided to turn her focus on working to save the planet. She uses her platform to bring awareness to climate change and educating others on the importance of keeping Mother Nature happy. Please read our exclusive interview here to learn more about how Lesa Wilson encourages going green!

KaylaRae Resin Designs: Coast Conscious Art

It is well known that natural occurring phenomenon bound by the confines of nature exists within the scope of divinity and omnipotence. Nature is mystifying, powerful, yet fragile. It serves to inspire and enlighten; it helps grapple with mortality in a system of reciprocity rooted in life and death — the circle of life.

Laguna Beach based artist, Mikayla Gierut explores natural oceanic and seaside geographical theme using epoxy resin. It is a direct nod to her coastal upbringing and environmental science background. She creates one of a kind cheeseboards using renewable materials such as ethically sourced wood, diverting almost all studio waste from the landfills via reutilization, and using a non-toxic, no VOC, natural based/food safe resin. Please read our exclusive interview here to learn more about Mikayla Gierut and her art.

JANOS Rocks For The Wolves

Most modern pop acts glorify a reality unattainable to humans. Songs tend to be driven by enchanting lyrics based in hyperbole or cliche romance tropes. They become larger than life figures basking in the glitz and glamour of fame and monetary success.

JANOS is a pop artist that retains his authenticity. Ironically, his uniqueness lies in his ability to capture the ordinary ups and downs of life. The Swedish born artist marries soulful vocals and dynamic emotion to deliver his pop-punk sound. Tracks like ‘Sicky/Sticky’ provide a glimpse into the world of depression, drug use, and ambition.

JANOS’ love doesn’t exist solely for his passion towards music. Animals welfare is a pressing issue he advocates for. He especially has a love for wolves. He has participated in LOUD! For The Animals and Rock for Wolves, with the goal of providing a voice for animals in need of protection. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about JANOS.

Chase Tang: The Earth Saving Super Villain

The Neflix's adaption of Jupiter’s Legacy, an American superhero comic book series, is set to unveil a new villain, Baryon — played by Chase Tang. Prior to acting, this Taiwanese born performer earned a Bachelor's degree in Business from the University of Guelph in Ontario and went on to be a successful corporate executive, before deciding to pursue his passion for the movie industry. When Chase isn’t playing a super villain, he is dedicating his time to his mental health campaigns and environmentalism, which is evident through his UN environmental campaign. Please read our exclusive interview here to learn more about Chase Tang.

The Ultimate Guide to Your Best Diet - Part 1: What to Eat in 2020

Jejune is excited to put out The Ultimate Guide to Your Best Diet in eight “digested” parts. We are starting with Part 1: What to Eat in 2020

Bloom Takes On The Algae Crisis

We all know by now that the fashion at large has, and remains, a continuous threat to our ecosystem. Carbon emissions, non-biodegradable polyesters, factory wastewater runoffs, etc., are just a few of the many issues plaguing the industry.

Our neglect of nature is rapidly changing our environment for the worse. Many lake waters across the U.S. are suffering from high levels of toxic algae, both to humans and wildlife.

This is where Bloom comes in, combating algae and creating sustainable footwear and shoe foams from bioplastic material derived from algae. Bloom is working to solve the algae crisis and restore the environment.

Please click here to learn about Bloom and their work.

El Pital Ometepe - The Chocolate Paradise

Nestled unassumingly between two volcanoes, Volcán Concepción and Volcán Maderas, on the infinity shaped inside of Ometepe, Nicaragua, El Pital Ometepe, aka The Chocolate Paradise, thrives, sprawling within the abundance of wildlife. Much like its name suggests, El Pital visually looks like a naturally occurring paradise, think The Promised Land or Garden of Eden except there's chocolate - a lot of chocolate.

El Pital is multipurpose, a getaway, hostel, vegan cafe/ cacao, raw chocolate factory, and cacao farm all in one. Workshops are offered daily, varying from yoga to meditations. Meals are all plant-based and vegan. In addition, tours are given around the farm. Visitors are taught about the history of the cacao plant medicine and learn the process of how chocolate is made. Please read our interview here with one of the partners of El Pital Ometepe - The Chocolate Paradise, Justin Waxman, to learn more.

Why Being Overly Clean is Toxic to Your Health (How to Swap Harsh Chemicals for Natural Alternatives) - By Dr. Marina Buksov

A lot of cleaning and personal care products on the market today contain harsh chemicals that are overtly toxic to us. Disinfectants like bleach, preservatives such as parabens, antibacterials such as triclosan, and synthetic fragrances and colorants, just to name a few - are ubiquitous. These ingredients can act as endocrine disruptors, inflammatory mediators, and even carcinogens. In addition, they are released into the environment and linger in the air, contributing to pollution and airborne inhalation by other people and living things. So, what should we use instead?

ECOALF Is Making Clothes For The Future

There are very few fashion brands as dedicated to sustainability as ECOALF. In every step of the process, from production, manufacturing, fabrics, to packaging, ECOALF (and founder Javier Goyeneche) have carefully considered their impact on the environment. They even started a subsidiary non-profit organization called The Ecoalf Foundation. The Ecoalf Foundation’s main objective is to promote the recovery of waste in order to recycle it for their clothing and avoid its harmful impact on the environment. In layman’s terms, one of the things this incredible brand is doing is pulling plastic trash out of our oceans and turning it into beautiful fashion! They are doing this “Because there is no planet B”, which is also one of their collections. I’m totally obsessed with it. Please read more to learn about ECOALF, its founder, and their efforts towards sustainability.

Unocup Has A New Fold On Fighting The Plastic Crisis

Plastic can easily be seen as a strong contender for the most blatant and obnoxious source of waste and hazard to our environment and wildlife. Despite this, plastic is still a common mainstay in our society because of its multifaceted practicality. According to the UN, today we produce about 300 million metric tons of plastic waste every year. Researchers estimate that more than 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic have been produced since the early 1950s. About 60% of that plastic has ended up in either a landfill or the natural environment. Plastic lids produce an estimate of over 20,000 tons of waste each year.

Unocup is actively facing the battle against plastic in the form of a small foldable paper cup and does away with the lid. Unocups origami-like design enables the cup to serve dual functions as a cup and lid. In addition, the lifecycle of the Unocup from production to waste is fully sustainable. Please click here to learn about Unocup from our exclusive interview with its founders: Tom Chan and Kaanur Papo.

Kimberly-Sue Murray Is An Unapologetic Environmentalist

On Netflix’s V-WARS, Kimberly-Sue Murray plays an aggressive Vampire with chaotic origins. Her character, Danika Dubov exudes power and feminine strength - especially when she gives into her vampiric instincts. Comparatively so, Murray displays her strength and passion through her advocacy and works in support of environmentalism.

V-WARS overarching plot tackles heavy real world issues, metaphorically, such as climate change in the form of a vampire apocalypse. Coincidentally, Murray is a huge climate change and wild life preservation advocate. She works with organizations such as CN Tower Climb for Nature and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) every year.

Please click here to learn more about Kimberly-Sue Murray and her work.

COVER - Alysia Reiner Is Sustainably Chic

Alysia Reiner is so much more than a warden in Orange Is The New Black, as a typical New Yorker, she does it all: influential actress, activist, producer, eco-momma, sustainable designer, feminist, and so much more! To learn more about her and she our 100% sustainable glamours cover editorial, please click here!

Saving Pleasant Village Community Garden, Inc.

Christine Johnson is a fighting to keep the land the NYC government gave to her local Harlem Community Garden.

Articles, Reviewed, zIssue1.1Jejune ContributorOctober 25, 2017community garden, NYC, green space, Harlem, save green space, eco lifeComment